Garage door



April 20 1965 R. F. s'rANsBERRY 3,178,776

GARAGE DOOR Filed March 9, 1962 ATTORNEY United States Patet 3,178,776 Patented Apr. 20, 1965 hice 3,178,776 GARAGE DUUR Robert F. Stansberry, Beverly Hills, Mich. (19960 Sunnyslope Drive, Birmingham, Mich.) Filed Mar. 9, 1962, Ser. No. 178,652 3 Claims. (Cl. 20-36) This invention relates to garage door closures in general and more particularly to a garage door closure having replaceable and interchangeable door panels.

There is an increasing popularity amongst present day home owners for homes having an attached garage. Such garages are frequently provided with the garage door facing the front of the house and in such instances the architectural character of the house is dominated by the appearance of the garage door. Those homes which have double garages and garage doors have a particular problern in this regard. Builders, architects and home owners have all attempted to soften the blankness of the closed garage door by ornamental designs painted on the door. However, as will be appreciated, these efforts result in considerable more maintenance for the home owner.

The convenience of an attached garage has also led to the use of such garages as summer porches and play areas for young children during inclement weather. This in turn has required that the door closure include or be replaceable by a separate weather closure admitting more light into the normally darkened garage interior. In a few instances, as suggested, glass or screen enclosing curtainwall structures are substituted for the garage door during the summer weather months.

Quite obviously, the use of a separately installed glass or screen curtainwall is totally impractical unless the home owner is satisfied to completely lose the use of his garage for housing his automobile. It would be far more desirble to have the garage door itself adapted or adaptable to provide a dual function. Although several attempts have been made to accomplish this end result, none have proven very successful.

As will be appreciated, it is extremely difcult to make use of glass window panes in garage doors since they are repeatedly opened and closed with devastating effects to the window areas unless they are suitably cushioned in soft rubber glazing frames. A whole door of exposed window area would be both difficult and expensive to provide. Furthermore, it would not be particularly attractive nor functionally practical when the garage area was used for winter storage purposes.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and different type of garage door wherein the door construe tion makes provision for replaceable panel areas and for the use of different panels which may be used to suit different needs and requirements.

It is an object of this invention to provide a garage door structure of the type mentioned wherein the panel members are interchangeable to permit innumerable variations in external design by the use of a minimum of panels of different colors or external configuration.

In this latter regard, it is an object of this invention to provide a garage door structure which will accommodate replaceable and interchangeable panel members.

It is also an object of this invention to teach the use of interchangeable and replaceable panel members for the garage door structure disclosed which are of translucent thermoplastic and formable material having a light diffusing surface texture. Such panels are weather resistant, maintenance free and can be provided in different color tones. The translucence admits light therethrough without enabling anyone to see into the garage while the diffusing surface texture precludes glare from the surface of the panels.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a garage door structure having multiple panel openings each receptive of a plurality of panel members capable of serving different functional purposes and to give optional selection in the appearance of the garage door.

A garage door constructed in accord with the teachings of this invention Will enable a home owner to have an attractive garage door in that the replaceable panels may be styled to the architectural character of his house and, further, will enable selected positioning of the styled panels to suit his particular wishes and needs. The use of translucent panels Will provide light in the normally darkened garage area and eliminate the need for window glass areas. However, the panels in question may be re'- placed in part or totally by suitable window glass or screen panel members as suits the wishes and needs of the home owner.

Other objects and advantages to be gained in the practice of this invention will be more apparent upon a reading of the following specification wherein a preferred embodiment of this invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE l is a front plan view of a garage door constructed in accord with the teachings of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a rear plan view of a panel section of the garage door structure shown by FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the garage door panel section shown by FIGURE 2 as seen in the plane of line 3-3; and

FIGURE 4 shows a collective group of replaceable panel members such as may be used with the garage door of this invention.

Referring to FIGURE l in further detail, there is shown a garage door 1f) used with a garage 12 and disposed within a door frame 14 to close the frame opening 16. The garage door 10, in this instance, is of the overhead opening type made up of hinged door sections 18 each extending the width of the door opening and in combination of the full height thereof. The door sections 18 each include a pair of rails 20 extending the full width of the door and interconnected by stiles 22 between the ends thereof. Mullions 24 are provided in parallel spaced relation to the stiles between the ends of the rails 2t).

As will be subsequently appreciated, the sectional construction of the garage door which is shown by the drawings is not a contributing factor to the broader aspects of the invention set forth. The same garage door may be viewed as a single unit having rails 20 at the top and bottom and stiles 22 extending the full height of the door. The intermediate rails, between those at the top and bottom of the door, may be more properly termed transoms and would be singular members. The door would then be considered to include intersecting cross-bars made up of vertically disposed mullions and horizontally disposed transoms.

Where appropriate this broader terminology will be used in defining the broader aspects of the invention and should be kept in mind. The stiles 22 and mullions 24 of each of the door sections in the embodiment shown by the drawing are relatively disposed to provide equal sized panel openings 26 therebetween. These panel openings are closed by flat and relatively plain surfaced panel members 2S, ornamental panel members 30, framed glass panel 32, screen panels 34, or the like. The different panel members are interchangeable and accordingly permit multiple different variations of ornamental and functional garage door panel arrangements as will be subsequently described in further detail.

A door handle mounting 36 may be provided between a pair of one of the door section framing rails 2t). In such instances the panel opening on each side of the door handle muntin 36 is closedV by filler panels 38. .This con-V veniently locates the door handle and lock member 4G in its conventional locati-on. Y Y

The rails `2t) which form the hinged door sectionslS yare hat shaped in cross section, as best shown by F IGURE 3, and -formed to include a hinge pin rol-l 42p at their outer edge. VAdjarcently disposed rails 2)y rof dierent l hinged sections 178v are hinge connected together in the welll known The shoulder ledges 44 are formed by having the inner i edge 46 of the panelopening framing members bent back and extended outwardly of the vpanel openings Z6 with the terminal edge 4S bent rearwardly of the panel openings.

interchangeable and adapted to t intoany of the panel openings 26. However, each of the panel members is larger than the panel openings 26 suiiicient toy provide'a peripheral edge 50 which is receivedand supported onV the shoulder ledges 44 disposed about .the diterent panel openings," A weather sealing strip 52 may be disposed between the peripheral edge of the different panels and the shoulder ledge 44 on which it is seated. Y Such weather sealing means maybe made upvof different strips and need not be an endless one piece of weather stripping member. p

'The panel members are retained on the shoulder ledge 44 by means of a glazing member 54 whichV is a simple sheet metal strip formed to an angular'cross section, as best shown by FIGURE 3. They are slightlyY shorter than the panel sides received.

The dilerent panel members 28, 30, 32 and 34 are all Y A 4' mounted in the garagejdoor. Incombination the dull side of the panel with the vleather textured surface serves to reduce any glare or reilection from the face of the plastic panels and tominimize their appearance as such.

As will be appreciated, the thermo-plastic material may be of any selected color and is of course weatherresistant and maintenance free.' Furthermore, the material is translucent' and accordingly enables a diffused light to pass throughwthe garage door'during the daytime. This factor,in large respect, eliminates the need yfor any light admitting glass panels in theV garage door. The garage door ltlwhich has been described may be supplied to a builder or home owner with any type or combination of diierent panels to provide any color combination, external design appearance or lfunctional character requested. Furthermore, afew extra panels of any selected design,: or glass panels, or screenpanels, may be provided to enable any variation after the garage door is installed or in use. Still further, a home owner may later order a full set of glass or screen panels to obtain a glassed or screened enclosure for a garage converted to summer porch or playY area use. The home owner himself can readily remove any of the panels and exchange or replace the panels however he chooses.

VThere is no installation problem since the home owner himself'can readily remove the spring clips 56 .and the glazing strip members 54 to replace any or all Vof the panel membersv if andA whenever desired.

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I claimt n l. A garage door ystructure adapted to receive and retain a plurality of readily removable distinctively different and interchangeable panel members within different panel openingsv provided therein, and comprising: a garage door framework including interconnected Stiles and rails having intersecting cross-'bars providedy therebetween and dening panel openings therewith, said Stiles rails and crossbars being disposed to provide a plurality of complemen- Y tary panel openings between which diterent of said clo- The glazing strip members 54 are separate straight .f

edge members which are held on theshoulder ledge 4d,V

with the panel member edges therebetween, by means of spring clip members 56. This allows for panel expansion and contraction. Y

The spring clip members 56 are formed to include. a shoulder engaging leg 5S and a glazing Vstrip retaining inner leg 60 joined by a spring loop 62. The shoulder engaging leg 58 ofthe spring clip is received over the back of the panel receiving shoulder ledge 44 and ther inner leg 60 of the spring clip holds the glazing strip member 54 Seated securely against theV terminal edge sure panels may be interchanged, said panel openings being -undersized with respect` to said panel members for receiving the latter in overlapping relation thereto, a shoulder ledge formed from said Stiles rails and cross-bars Vaboutgsaid panel openings and having a free edge ex- 48 ofthe shoulder ledge andrbiased towards the .panel receptive face 46 thereof.Y

As notedl by FIGURE 2, a plurality` of spring clips S6 are used to hold the vdifferent glazing strip members 54 in place and the selected panel member inclosing prosition across a panel opening 26.

Although, as mentioned,l glassY pane panels 32 and v screen panels 34 may be used to close the diierent panel openings 26 in the garage door 10, the preferred type of panel is made of a thermo-setting plastic or thermo-plastic material Whichis readily receptive to thermo-forming.YV

The panel members of thethermo-plastic material are v also'preferably formed to include -a leather textured surface 70 and, in the molding operation, the dull side'of the panel is intended to serve as the face of the panel as tending Ibehind and externallyof said openings, straight length panel glazing members Vcooperatively engageable with saidshoulderanges, and readily removable spring clip members having the yends thereof formed and disposed for cooperativeslocking engagement of said glazing members to the free yends of said shoulder anges with the edges of said interchangeablepanelsoverlapping said 'opening retained therebetween.

tions being relatively disposed to provide equal sized panel. openings therebetween, panel members for closing said openings and interchangeable between substantially all of saidropenings, a flange wall formedfromeach of said rails Stiles and mullions about said panel'openings and extended f outwardly of said opening and substantially in the plane i thereof, sai-d ange walls having the 'terminal edge thereof bent transversely and extending behind said panel opening, said panel members being sized to seat on said flange Walls .and within said terminal edges, individual straight edge members of extended length seating on said flange walls next adjacentv said terminal edges and on each side of said openings, and spring clip fasteners for removably engagingsaid straight edge members to said flange walls and the Vterminal edges thereof with said panel member edges securely retained therebetween.

3. A garage door, comprising;

transversely disposed and spaced frame rails secured and engaged together to provide a frame member which ts a garage door opening and includes a plurality of panel receptive openings,

said yframe rails having a channel cross-section and being open at the backs thereof,

a shoulder flange formed from the opening defining edges of said frame rails and extending transversely thereto,

said shoulder flanges in combination being disposed in peripheral and co-planar relation about each of said panel receptive openings and outside thereof,

terminal flanges formed `from the terminal edges o-f said shoulder anges by bending them at right angles and extending them rearwardly,

panel members for closing said openings and which .are oversized with respect thereto and have the peripheral edge thereof received in engagement with the shoulder anges of said frame rails,

land spring clip fastener means readily and removably engaged to said shoulder and terminal anges for retaining and replaceable engagement of said panel members thereto.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 587,983 8/97 Martin 160-128 2,074,399 3/37 Karr 24-73 X 2,095,892 10/37 Place 189-78 2,117,939 5/38 Campion 189-78 2,250,624 7/41 Bugatti 20-56.4 2,585,627 2/52 Cornell et al. 160-180 2,944,643 7/60 David et al. 20-36 X 2,951,533 9/60 Lucas et al 160-201 X 2,952,314 9/60 Clark 160-229 2,956,314 10/ 60 Rowe et `al 20-36 HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

20 N. ANSHER, Examiner. 

1. A GARAGE DOOR STRUCTURE ADAPTED TO RECEIVE AND RETAIN A PLURALITY OF READILY REMOVABLE DISTINCTIVELY DIFFERENT AND INTERCHANGEABLE PANEL MEMBERS WITHIN DIFFERENT PANEL OPENINGS PROVIDED THEREIN, AND COMPRISING: A GARAGE DOOR FRAMEWORK INCLUDING INTERCONNECTED STILES AND RAILS HAVING INTERSECTING CROSS-BARS PROVIDED THEREBETWEEN AND DEFINING PANEL OPENINGS THEREWITH, SAID STILES RAILS AND CROSSBARS BEING DISPOSED TO PROVIDE A PLURALITY OF COMPLEMENTARY PANEL OPENINGS BETWEEN WHICH DIFFERENT OF SAID CLOSURE PANELS MAY BE INTERCHANGED, SAID PANEL OPENINGS BEING UNDERSIZED WITH RESPECT TO SAID PANEL MEMBERS FOR RECEIVING THE LATTER IN OVERLAPPING RELATION THERETO, A SHOULDEWR LEDGE FORMED FROM SAID STILES RAILS AND CROSS-BARS ABOUT SAID PANEL OPENINGS AND HAVING A FREE EDGE EXTENDING BEHIND AND EXTERNALLY OF SAID OPENINGS, STRAIGHT LENGTH PANEL GLAZING MEMBERS COOPERATIVELY ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID SHOULDER FLANGES, AND READILY REMOVABLE SPRING CLIP MEMBERS HAVING THE ENDS THEREOF FORMED AND DISPOSED FOR COOPERATIVES LOCKING ENGAGEMENT OF SAID GLAZING MEMBERS TO THE FREE ENDS OF SAID SHOULDER FLANGES WITH THE EDGES OF SAID INTERCHANGEABLE PANELS OVERLAPPING SAID OPENING RETAINED THEREBETWEEN. 